Portable folding artist&#39;s easel



I Oct. 29, 1935. w E' DENNY 2,019,214

PORTABLE FOLDING ARTISTS EASEL Filed May 51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 29, 1935. w. E. DENNY 2,019,214

PORTABLE FOLDING ARTIST'S EASEL Filed May 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to easels and more particularly to a portable folding artists easel.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding easel of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, especially designed for use by artists and others for supporting stretched canvas and similar working surfaces while being painted or otherwise ornamented and for exhibiting pictures, paintings, etchings and other works of art.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for clamping and holding the canvas frame in positionon the supporting ledge of the easel and means whereby the canvas or other working surface may be tilted at any desired angle with respect to said supporting ledge to obtain the desired light effect on the canvas.

A further object is to provide a knock-down easel which may be readily set up for use and compactly folded for transportation or storage,

said easel embodying in its structure a novel form of clamp for securely holding the leg sections in extended position so as to prevent accidental collapse of the easel when in use.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a folding easel embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the easel.

Figure 3 is a view showing the manner of adjusting the canvas support to get the desired light effect thereon.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the leg clamping members.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the easel folded for transportation or storage. v

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing a modified form of leg supporting lock or clamp.

The improved folding easel, forming the subject-matter of the present invention, comprises front and rear supporting legs 5 and 6 preferably arranged in tripod form and each comprising upper and lower sections having their inner ends overlapped and pivotally connected by a bolt or similar fastening device I so as to permit the lower sections of the legs to be folded upon the v upper sections when the device is not in use i and it is desired to transport or store the same. The upper ends of the lower leg sections are inclined or beveled at 8 and pivotally mounted at 9 adjacent said beveled ends are substantially U- shaped clamping members Ill having terminal 10 side lips ll adapted to overlap and bear against the upper leg sections and rigidly support the leg sections in vertical alinement with each other when the easel is set up for use. It will here be noted that the transverse connecting bar l2 of 16 each clamping member is inclined to conform to and bears against the beveled end 8 of the leg section to which the clamp is attached and thus serves to limit the downward and inward swinging movement of the clamping members when 20 swung on their pivots to operative position. Mounted on and adjustable vertically of the front legs 5 is a support adapted to receive a canvas stretcher or other working surface to be painted or ornamented. The support comprises mating 25 members l3 and I4 connected by a clamping bolt l5, one of said members, namely the member I4, being provided with an upstanding ledge [6 which prevents displacement of the canvas stretcher or working surface when positioned on 30 the easel. It will thus be seen that by loosening the wing nut ll, the supporting member may be adjusted vertically of the front supporting legs to any desired position, after which it may be held in a set position by tightening the wing nut, as will be readily understood.

The upper or converging ends of the supporting legs of the easel are pivo-tally connected at E8 to a bridge plate l9 preferably substantially triangular in shape and having slightly curved 40 slots 26 formed near the lower edge thereof which receive screws or pins 2| carried by the upper leg sections. This construction permits the supporting legs to be swung laterally on their pivots i8 soas. to increase or diminish the distance be- 4: tween the lower ends of said legs, and the pins 2!, by engagement with the walls of the slots 20, serve to limit the pivotal movement of the legs.

The upper or small end of the bridge plate I9 is bifurcated to form a vertical slot 22 opening 50 through the top thereof and defining spaced ears 23 having openings 24 formed therein and in which is journaled a rotating barrel or drum 25. Extending through an opening 26 in the drum or barrel a vertically adjustable rod 21 to the 55 upper end of which is pivotally mounted at 28 a swinging clamp or holder 29 having a depending flange 38 in which is threaded a clamping screw 3i. The clamp 29 is adapted to fit over and receive the canvas stretcher or other working surface to be painted or ornamented and after the stretcher frame is positioned within the holder 29, it may be firmly held therein by adjusting the wing screw 3|, as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Extending laterally from the outer face of the bridge plate I9, immediately below and in alinement with the hub 26, is a perforated lug 32 which serves to receive and guide the lower end of the rod 27, there being a clamping screw 33 extending through the slot 22 into the hub and adapted to bear against the rod for securing the rod in any desired position of vertical adjustment. V

It often happens that in order to obtain the desired light effect on the picture being painted or exhibited, it becomes necessary to tilt the picture at an angle or inclination to the vertical axis of the easel and this is accomplished by elevating the rod 2'! until the lower end thereof clears the perforated lug32. The rod 27 may then be adjusted within the drum or hub 26 to the desired height and held in adjusted position by rotating the clamping screw 33 and in which position the rod and clamp 29, carrying the picture, may be swung forward with the drum as a pivot, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The rear face of the bridge plate is formed with spaced ears or lugs 34 between which the rear supporting leg is preferably pivoted, as shown.

In using the easel, the canvas stretcher or .other working surface is positioned on the supporting member with the lower end of the canvas stretcher engaging the, ledge I6, after which the rod 21 is adjusted by loosening the screw 33 until the holder 29 is in position to engage the upper end of the canvas stretcher, after which said holder is swung downwardly on its pivot 28 and the canvas stretcher held within the holder and on the easel by adjusting the screw 3|. If it is desired to vary the light elfect on a finished or partially finished picture in exhibiting the same, the screw 33 is loosened and the lower end of the rod 2l disengaged from the perforated lug 32 when the picture may be tilted forward with the drum 26 as an axis, in the manner previously described. By swinging the clamping members It) laterally until the lips I I are disengaged from the adjacent leg sections and swinging the lower leg sections upwardly with the bolts 7 as pivots, the legs may be compactly folded, one upon the other, as best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, so as to permit the device to be conveniently transported from place to place or for storage purposes. It is obvious that by swinging the leg sections downwardly in alinement with each other and then moving the clamping members laterally until the lips ll engage the adjacent leg sections, the legs may be securely held in alinement so as to prevent accidental collapse of the easel when in use.

In Figure 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the revolving barrel or drum is omitted, the rod 21 being slidably mounted within spaced keepers 35 formed on the bridge plate and held in different positions of vertical adjustment by a clamping screw 36 which engages the rod at a point opposite one of the keepers. ,In this form of the device, the holder 29 is rigidly secured to the rod instead of being pivotally connected therewith, the construction being the same as that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings with the exception of the leg clamping members. In the modified form of the invention, I prefer to use a leg hold- 5 ing or clamping member of the construction shown in Figure 10 in which the upper ends of the lower leg sections are formed with kerfs 37 in which are pivotally mounted at 38 looking plates 89 adapted to enter suitable recesses 40 10 formed in the mating leg sections, as shown.

It will, of course, be understood that the easels may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention. 15

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An easel including front and rear supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the legs are pivoted, a work-supporting ledge carried by the legs, a barrel journaled on the plate, and 10 a vertically adjustable work-engaging clamp slidably mounted in said barrel.

2. An easel including front and rear supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the legs are pivoted, a pin and slot connection 25 between the upper ends of the legs and said bridge plate, a barrel journaled on the plate, a vertically adjustable work-engaging clamp slidably mounted in said barrel, and means extending through the barrel and engaging the clamp for holding the clamp in different positions of vertical adjustment.

3. An easel including supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the legs are pivoted, a perforated lug extending laterally from one side of the bridge plate, a barrel journaled on the plate above the lug, a rod extending through the barrel and said lug, a clamping device carried by the upper end of the rod, said rod being adjusted vertically of the plate, and means 60 extending through the barrel and engaging the rod for holding said rod in difi'erent positions of adjustment.

4. An easel including front and rear supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the 4.5 legs are pivoted, said bridge plate having its upper end slotted and provided with laterally extending ears, a barrel journaled in said ears, 9. rod slidably mounted in the barrel and having its upper end provided with a work-engaging memher, and a clamping screw extending within the slot and said barrel and engaging the rod for holding the rod in different positions of adjustment.

5. An easel including front and rear supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the legs are pivoted, said bridge plate having its upper end slotted and provided with spaced ears, a guiding lug extending from the front of the plate beneath the ears, a barrel journaled in B0 said ears, a vertically adjustable rod extending through the barrel and within the guide lug and having its upper end provided with means for engagement with the work, and a clamping screw extending within the barrel at said slot and engaging the rod for holding the rod in different positions of adjustment.

'6. An easel including front and rear supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the 7 legs are pivoted, 'a pin and slot connection be- "l tween the front supporting legs :and bridge plate, said bridge plate being provided with spaced ears.

a drum journaled between said ears and having an opening formed therein, a guide lug projecting from'the plate, a rod slidably mounted in the opening in the drum and said guide lug, a workengaging member pivotally mounted on the upper end of the rod, and a clamping screw extending through the drum and engaging the rod for holding the rod in different positions of adjustment.

7. An easel including front and rear supporting legs each formed of overlapped pivotally connected sections, means disposed at the overlapped portions of the leg sections for holding said sections in vertical alinement with each other, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the legs are pivoted, a work-supporting ledge carried by the front supporting legs, a drum journaled on the bridge plate, a guide disposed beneath the drum, a vertically adjustable workengaging member extending through the drum and guide, and means for holding the work-engaging member in different positions of vertical adjustment.

8. A folding easel including front and rear supporting legs each formed of pivotally connected overlapped sections, means for holding the leg sections in alinement with each other, a substantially triangular bridge plate to which the upper ends of the supporting legs are pivoted, said bridge plate having a pin and slot connection with the upper sections of the front legs, a guide extending from the front of the bridge plate, spaced ears disposed above the guide, a drum journaled in the ears, a rod extending through the drum and guide, means carried by the upper 5 end of the rod for engagement with the. work, and means for holding the rod in different positions of adjustment.

9. A knock-down folding easel including front and rear supporting legs, a work-supporting 10 ledge secured to and adjustable vertically of the front supporting legs, a bridge plate to which the upper ends of the front supporting legs are pivoted, ears extending laterally from the rear of the bridge plate and pivotally connected with the 15 rear supporting leg, said bridge plate having its upper end slotted and formed with spaced laterally projecting ears at said slotted portion, a drumjournaled between and within the ears, a vertically adjustable rod extending through the g0 drum, means mounted on the plate for guiding the lower end of the rod, means at the upper end of the rod for engaging the work, and means for holding the rod in different positions of adjustment.

WILLIAM E. DENNY. 

